Yoga in the United States has largely been diminished to Asana (postures). Yoga is really so much more than Sun Salutations; it’s a practice of self-discovery, a practice that enhances inner peace and peace with the world, a practice that changes the way you treat yourself and the people around you. It is not a religion but a lifestyle. It is a philosophy that can (and should) be incorporated alongside any religious or spiritual practice that any individual may follow.
The primary practice is to discover the knowledge, wisdom, and divinity that lies within one’s self.
I recently had a conversation with one of my best friends in which we brought up the idea of the multitudes residing within one being. In modern psychology, you may have heard of the practice of comforting the child within. My bestie (female identifying) took this further to include the goddess, the priestess, the seductress, the storyteller, the artist, the daughter, the friend, the warrior. And she wondered, in the times in which I’m feeling detached, depressed, and at a loss for the luster of life, can I tap into my own being and allow the friend to comfort the goddess, or the storyteller to comfort the daughter, or the child to comfort the warrior? What would that look like? How could that change the way I live?
Admittedly, my mind was kind of blown after this conversation. And I came to realize that I don’t even know the multitudes within my own being. So, I’m moving onto the path of self-discovery, and it’s exciting. I would love to walk this path with my community. Perhaps you will find yourselves through walks in the woods, or in a meditation practice, or a yoga practice, or a long run or bike ride, or through journaling. Whichever path you choose, I hope it leads you to peace and a deeper love for yourself and the world.
Peace and wellness to you,
Lauren